William M. Bailey will report to the Stark County Jail on Jan. 2 to begin a 29-day jail sentence and to pay $400 in court costs, plus fines.

Bailey, 43, of 5955 Stinewood Dr. SE in Pike Township, was accused of mocking the disabled 10-year-old daughter of next-door neighbors Michael and Tricia Knight as he walked his 9-year-old son home from the school bus stop. The girl has cerebral palsy and walks with crutches.

The Knights said Bailey was mocking the child. Bailey said he was not. He said he was reacting to name-calling directed at his son.

Misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and aggravated menacing were filed last month against Bailey.

CHARGES REDUCED

On Tuesday, Bailey pleaded “no contest” to amended charges and was found guilty by Poulos.

Tricia Knight, the girl’s mother, filed the menacing complaint with the prosecutor’s office, saying that Bailey threatened to choke her with a chain, said Jennifer Fitzsimmons, assistant city prosecutor. A Stark County sheriff’s deputy filed the disorderly conduct complaint as a result of the video recording of Bailey and his son at the bus stop, citing Bailey’s actions as “offensive behavior,” Fitzsimmons said.

At a hearing Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office reduced the first-degree misdemeanor menacing charge to a fourth-degree charge, citing that “after further investigation, it was determined the threat made was a threat to harm and did not occur in the vicinity of a school,” court papers said.

Also, the fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct was amended to a minor misdemeanor charge because the incident “did not occur on the day in question and the act did not occur in front of a police officer,” as required by the statute, the paperwork said.

Fitzsimmons pointed out after the hearing that “the judge gave him the maximum fine for those charges and the maximum jail sentence for the offense.”

She said she was pleased with the outcome of the case.

“It’s unfortunate that it had to come to this,” she said, adding that the positive result of the incident was that it brought “recognition to the problem” of bullying.

“It’s unfortunate it had to be at the expense of a family and a little girl who has it rough as it is,” she said.

DEFENDANT’S STATEMENT

Bailey had no comment.

His attorney, John R. Giua, handed out a media statement, which read: “To Hope and her family, please accept my apology for my inappropriate behavior. I know that my actions were immature and lacked the respect you deserve. I didn’t realize the impact this incident would have upon both of our families and I truly regret it.”

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Fitzsimmons said Bailey also wrote an apology to the girl, which was not required by the judge.

Tricia Knight said she would read it to her daughter, adding “I know he doesn’t mean it. I know it’s crap.”

Her husband echoed her sentiments, calling Bailey’s apology hollow. Still, he said he and his wife were “pretty happy” with the judge’s ruling.

Michael Knight said that Bailey’s arrest didn’t change anything.

“This didn’t stop him,” Michael Knight said. “We do live next to him and it’s ongoing.”

Tricia Knight said her daughter is afraid to go outdoors.

“She wants the blinds closed. She doesn’t want to be outside,” she said.

At the time of the incident the Knights were renting their house, which is next door to the Bailey family. The Knights purchased their home about a week ago, according to the Stark County Auditor’s website.